Electric heater assembly



March 2, 1965 J. MCORLLY 3,171,949

ELECTRIC HEATER ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 30, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOSEPH Mc ORLq "aw/W A TTGFIVAJ/ March 2, 1965 J. MOORLLY ELECTRIC HEATER ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1962 INVENTOR. Q JOSEPH MCORLLY ,4 Tivff/Vj m lT m3 March 2, 1965 J. M ORLLY ELECTRIC HEATER ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 30, 1962 INVENTOR.

,4 Tram/4 (JOSEPH McORL United States Patent ELECTRIC HEATER ASSEMBLY Joseph McOrlly, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to Edwin L. Wiegand Company, Pittsburgh, Pa. Filed Jan. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 169,915 7 Claims. (Cl. 219-467) The present invention relates to electric heater assemblies, more particularly to surface-type, electric resistance heater assemblies adapted to be used with ranges and the like, and the principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved assemblies of the character described.

The present invention is an improvement over that disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 11,297, filed February 26, 1960, now Patent 2,116,400, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant case and contemplates a more efficient, simpler and lower cost assembly while retaining all of the advantages of the earlier invention. The manner in which the foregoing is accomplished will readily become apparent from a study of the following description and from the appended drawings.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part of this applicaiton there is shown, for purpose of illustration, an embodiment which the invention may assume, and in these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the invention, the range top with which it is associated being fragmentarily shown,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view generally corresponding to the line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view generally corresponding to the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, exploded, fragmentary perspective view of certain details.

FIGURE 5 is a reduced size fragmentary sectional view generally corresponding to the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 4 but with the parts shown in normal assembled relation in full lines,

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view generally corresponding to the line 66 of FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view of certain details, and

FIGURE 8 is a View similar to FIGURE 2 but with certain parts displaced from their normal use position.

With particular reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the present invention comprises a surface-type heater assembly 10 supported by the top 11 of a range or the like. In the present embodiment, the range has an aperture 12 margined by 21 depending annular flange 13. The lower margin of flange 13 is turned radially inwardly to provide an annular ledge 14 for a purpose to appear.

Resting upon annular ledge 14 is the outwardly turned lip 15 of a drip, or reflector pan 16, and resting upon such lip is the usual spider, or element support 17. Spider 17 is preferably formed of a length of strip metal pt sitioned on edge and formed to a triangular configuration with legs 17.1, 17.2 and 17.3 (see FIGURE 1). A fourth leg 17.4 extends outwardly of the triangular shaped spider from the juncture of spider legs 17.1, 17.3, the outermost ends of the spider legs resting upon the drip pan lip 15 as shown. Spider 17 may carry the usual medallion 18 which is centered in the central opening of the heating surface of the about to be described heating element.

Adapted to rest upon the spider 17 for support thereby is the usual elongated, tubular, metallic-sheathed electric resistance heating element 19 convoluted to provide a generally circular, centrally apertured heating surface centered within the range-top aperture 12 for underlying and supporting a vessel to be heated. As in the usual construction, terminal ends 19.2, 19.3 of the element 19 are disposed beneath the element heating surface (FIG- 3,171,949 Patented Mar. 2,1965

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URE 2) and project radially outwardly of the latter through a slot 16.1 of the drip pan in spaced, side-by side relation for termination beyond the periphery of the heating surface and beneath the range top 11. The free end of each element terminal end has the usual terminal pin 20 extending therefrom which conducts electrical energy to the resistor conductor embedded in the intermediate element portion and to the projecting end of each terminal pin there is secured by welding or the like a curved, sheet metal contact member 21. For a purpose to appear, annular flange 14 is discontinued at 14.1 adjacent the element terminal ends 19.2, 19.3.

Any suitable means may be provided for retaining the element 19 in assembled relation with the spider 17 and in the present embodiment, a sheet metal loop 22' extends between and is welded to the underside of the two outermost convolutions of the element portion 19.1 at a point spaced from the terminal ends 19.2, 19.3 for slid ably receiving the spider leg 17.4. The underside of the latter is notched at 23 to provide spaced shoulders for limiting relative movement of the spider and the element in a direction longitudinally of the spider leg 17.4. The portion of element 19 adjacent the terminal ends 19.2,

19.3 is retained in the proper relation with the spider 17 by means of a sheet metal tongue 24 depending from the spider leg 172 and having a bifurcated lower end which 19.3 are connected together and as best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, each element terminal end passes through an apertured lug 25 which is welded, crimped, or otherwise secured to its respective element terminal end for projection toward the opposite element terminal end. Lugs 25 have projecting portions 26 which are axially aligned with each other and the lugs are preferably spaced some distance from the free ends of the element terminal ends. As viewed in FIGURE 5, the projecting lug portions 26 are of a length to normally abut each other to maintain a minimum spacing between the element terminal ends.

Spanning the projecting lug portions 26 is a sleeve member 27 presently formed of sheet metal to provide spaced side walls 27.1 and spaced top and bottom walls 27.2. At the present time, the spacing between the inside surfaces of respective side walls 27.1 is such to closely but slidably receive therebetween the lug portions 26 to restrict relative axial movement of the element terminal ends. The spacing, however, between the inside surfaces of respective top and bottom walls 27.2 issomewhat greater than the height of the lug portions 26 for a purpose to appear.

In as much as the lug portions 26 are slidable axially of the sleeve member 27, the element terminal end portions are free to move transversely away from each other (as seen in phantom lines in FIGURE 5)- upon energization and consequent elongation of the heating element. Also, 7

because of the vertical clearance between the projecting lug portions and the top and bottom sleeve walls, the element terminal ends 19.2, 19.3 are relatively movable vertically a limited amount as shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 6.

Under certain circumstances it may be desirable to restrict movement of lugs 25 axially of the sleeve member 27 toward and away from eaclr other without restricting relative vertical movement of the lugs as seen in FIG- URE 6. Under such circumstances, a side wall 27.1 of sleeve member 27 may be provided with an inwardly pro Turning now to the means for establishing electrical connection-s to the element terminal ends 19.2, 19.3, such means presently comprises a dielectric terminal block 28 and a supportingbracket 29 therefor. With reference to EIGURESQ, 3 and-7; block 28-has, apair of spaced, sideby-side recesses 28,} for receiving respectiveelement terminal" ends,19.2 19.3 and extending across each recess isa SlOitQdzWflllZS-Z, Extending through the-slot in Wall 282;. of thenear recess 28.1 (FIGURE, 2) is the shank 30.1 of ablock-contaet member 30. Member 30 has a transversely extending foot portion 30.2 which is adapted to engage contact 21 of element terminal end 19.2 and thus establish an electrical connection therebetween. A helicalpspring 31 surroundsthe shank portion 301- of the member 30 and bears against the wall 28.2 to urge the block contact member to engagement with the element contact21.

To prevent. unintentional disassembly of the blockcontact. member 30 front the block when the element terminal ends are withdrawn from their recesses, a springmetal retainerv 30.3 is welded or otherwise secured to the free end of the block contactmember shank portion 3.0;.1 andbears against the left side of wall 28.2 to limit right-hand movement of theblock contact member as shown in FIGURE 7. In the event removal of the block contact member is required, it isonly necessary to spring retainer: 303 against-member shank portion 30.1 so that it may, readily. pass through the Wall slot from left to right.

It is to be understood that another block-contact member identical to. that above-described is disposed in the far-side recess 28.1 for engagement with the contact member 21 of the element terminal end 19.3. Also although not shown, suitable electricaldeads may be respectively connected -to the left-hand ends of the block contact members shank portions 30.1 by means of suitable clips or the like to place the latter in an electrical power circuit.

With reference to the previously mentioned block supporting bracket 29, andstill referring to FIGURES 2, 3 and], such bracket is preferably formed of a single strip of metal to provide an upstanding portion 29.1 which is removablysecuredto the range-top flange 13' by means of a screw 32 which passes through an aperture in such flange and threads into the bracket, a horizontally extending portion the underside of the range top 11 for steadying purposes, a portion 29.3-whichunderlies portion 29.2 and overlies the top of-the terminal block, and a hook-like portion 29 .4 terminating in an abutment 29.5 for a purpose to appear.

Block 28 is presently secured to the bracket 29 by means o'f-a screw'132-(see especially FIGURE 3) which passes up through the block between the recesses 28.1 and is threaded into the bracket portion 29.3. Since but a Singleffastening screw 132 is preferably employed for simplicity and easeof assembly, the upper surface of block 28' has spaced abutments 28.3, 28:51 (see especially FIGURE 7) for closely receiving therebetween the bracket' portion 29:3 to insure proper orientation of the block and the bracket. i

With the parts positioned as seen in FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the engagement of sleeve 27' with the bracket abutment 29.5 retains the element terminal ends within respective block recesses and with block contacts 30 pressed into engagement with respective element contacts 21 bytheir helical springs 31. When removal of ele- Inent 19 is desired as for cleaningrand the like, the righthand' end of the element, as" viewed in FIGURE 2, will belifteduntil sleeve 27'disengages from behind bracket abutment 29.5 whereupon the springs 31 will urge the block cont-acts30 and thus the element to the position seen in FIGURE 8. Removal of the element may then easily be eifectuated' by shifting it in the direction of the arrow to withdraw its terminal end portions from the 29.2 which underlies and bears against terminal block recesses. Following removal of the element, drip pan 18 may be lifted out for cleaning.

To replace the element 19 for normal use, the drip pan, if previously removed, will be disposed in position on the range-top ledge 14 with its slot 161 adjacent the terminal block 28. The, free ends of the element terminal ends 19.2, 19.3 will then be inserted in respective block recesses 28.1 and the element-then shifted to the left agm'nst the resistance of springs 31 until the sleeve clears the bracket abutment 29.5. The element will then be moved downuntil itsspider 17 rests upon the drip pan flange 15 as seen in FIGURE 2 with the sleeve 27 engaged behind the bracket abutment.

Although not previously mentioned, the present as sembly includes a trim ring 33 having an outwardly turned flange portion 33.1 which rests upon the range top and.

a depending tubular portion 33.2 within the range-top aperture 12. Such ring imparts a finished appearance to the assembly and may easily be removed for cleaning merely by lifting it from position either before or after removal of the element 19 as previously described.

While the element herein disclosed is formed of a single tubular heating element, it will readilybe apparent that itmay instead be formed of two heating elements each forming a part of the heating surface. In such case, there would be four element terminal ends rather than two; however, they would be arranged'in a manner similar to that herein shown while the terminal. block would have additional recesses and contacts for cooperation with the additional element terminal ends.

In View of the foregoing it will be apparent to those principal object of my invention and it willalso .be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment.

herein described maybe variously changed and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention iscapable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence itwill be appreciated that the herein 'disclosed embodiment is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

1 claim:

1. For use with a range top having an opening margined by 21 depending. annular flange, a surface-type-electric heater assembly comprisingan elongated sheathed electric resistance heating element having a convoluted intermediate heat-generating portion providing a generally circular heating surface-for disposition in register with the range-top opening tounderlie and support a vessel to be heated and terminal end portions extending in side-by-side relation beneath said heat-generating portion from respective ends of the latter and. terminating beyond the periphery of said element heating surface for conducting. electrical energy to said heat-generating element portion, a dielectric terminal block. beneath the-- range top to one side of the opening therein and cooperable with said element terminal end portions to place the latterin an electrical circuit, and a bracketfor supporting said terminal block and having a first portion abutting the exterior of the range-top flange and removably secured thereto, a second portion structurally integral with said first and abutting the underside of the range top, and a third portion structurally integralwith said second and underlying the latter, said third portion overlying said block and being removably secured thereto for support ing said block in position, and said bracketbeing formed from a metal strip which is doubled back on itself to provide said second and third portions.

2. For use with a range top having an opening margrned' by 21 depending annularflange, a surface-type electric heater assembly comprising an. elongated sheathed electric resistance heating element having a convoluted intermediate heat-generating portion providing a generally circular heating surface for disposition in register with the range-top opening to underlie and supporta vessel to be heated and terminal end portions extending in side-byside relation beneath said heat-generating portion from respective ends of the latter and terminating beyond the periphery of said element heating surface for conducting electrical energy to said heat-generating element portion, connecting means for connecting said terminal ends together, a dielectric terminal block beneath the range top to one side of the opening therein and cooperable with said element terminal end portions to place the latter in an electrical circuit, and a bracket for supporting said terminal block and having a first portion abutting the exterior of the range-top flange and removably secured thereto, a second portion structurally integral with said first and abutting the underside of the range top, and a third portion structurally integral with said second and underlying the latter, said third portion overlying said block and being removably secured thereto for supporting said block in position, said bracket also having a hooklike portion projecting radially inwardly relative to said range top opening and engaging said connecting means to maintain said element terminal ends in cooperable relation with said terminal block.

3. For use with an apertured range top, a surface-type electric heater assembly comprising an elongated sheathed electric resistance heating element having a convoluted intermcdaite heat-generating portion providing a generally circular heating surface for disposition in register with the range-top aperture to underlie and support a vessel to be heated and terminal end portions extending in horizontally spaced, side-by-side relation beneath said heat-generating portion from respective ends of the latter and terminating beyond the periphery of said element heating surface for conducting electrical energy to said heat-generating element portion, a dielectric terminal block beneath the range top to one side of its aperture and having spaced recesses for receiving respective element terminal end portions to place the latter in an electrical circuit, a bracket secured to the range top and having a portion overlying and abutting said block, said block and said bracket portion having interengaging parts to restrict relative edgewise movement therebetween, and means extending vertically of and through said block between its recesses and securing said block to said bracket.

4. For use with an apertured range top, a surface-type electric heater assembly comprising an elongated sheathed electric resistance heating element having a convoluted intermediate heat-generating portion providing a generally circular heating surface for disposition in register with the range-top aperture to underlie and support a vessel to be heated and terminal end portions extending in horizontally spaced, side-by-side relation beneath said heat-generating portion from respective ends of the latter and terminating beyond the periphery of said element heating surface for conducting electrical energy to said heat-generating element portion, a dielectric terminal block beneath the range top to one side of its aperture a d having Spaced st s ss for ece i g respective ement terminal end portions to place the latter in an electrical circuit, a bracket secured to the range top and having a portion overlying and abutting said block, said block having spaced abutments between which said bracket portion is closely received to restrict relative edge- Wise movement therebetween, and means extending vertically of and through said block between its recesses and securing said block to said bracket.

5. A surface-type range-top heater, comprising an elongated sheathed electric resistance heating element having a convoluted intermediate heat-generating portion providing a generally circular heating surface for underlying and supporting a vessel to be heated and terminal end portions extending in side-by-side relation beneath said heat-generating portion and terminating beyond the periphery of said element heating surface for conducting electrical energy to said heat-generating element portion, and means secured to and extending between said element terminal ends and limiting relative axial movement thereof While providing for relative movement of said element terminal ends in a transverse direction, said means comprising a member secured to each element terminal end portion, said members extending transversely from respective terminal end portions and facing each other, and a sleeve between said members and having opposite open ends into which respective members slidably fit in telescopic relation.

6. A surface-type range-top heater, comprising an elongated sheathed electric resistance heating element having a convoluted intermediate heat-generating portion providing a generally circular heating surface for underlying and supporting a vessel to be heated and terminal end portions extending in side-by-side relation beneath said heat-generating portion and terminating beyond the periphery of said element heating surface for conducting electrical energy to said heat-generating element portion, a member rigidly secured to the sheath and extending transversely of each terminal end portion, said members facing each other, and a connection between said members, said connection permitting certain relative movement of said members to provide for movement of said terminal end portions in a transverse direction, and said connection opposing other relative movement of said members to restrict relative axial movement of said terminal end portions.

7. The construction of claim 6 wherein said connection comprises a slip joint between said members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,790,062 4/57 McOrlly 219--452 2,839,656 6/58 Weyrick 219451 3,016,445 1/62 Lien -1 219451 3,017,491 1/62 Ammerman 219-452 3,021,414 2/62 Sand 219-451 RICHARD M, WOOD, Primary Examiner,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,171,949 March 2, 1965 Joseph McOrlly It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 16, for "2,116,400" read 3,116,400 line 49, after "range" insert top column 5, line 25, for "intermedaite" read intermediate Signed and sealed this 27th day of July 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Altesting Officer Commissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CGRRECTION Patent No. 3 ,171 949 March 2, 1965 Joseph McOrlly It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent reqiiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 16, for "2,116,400" read 3,116,400

line 49, after "range" insert top column 5, line 25, for "intermedaite" read intermediate Signed and sealed this 27th day of July 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attosting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. FOR USE WITH A RANGE TOP HAVING AN OPENING MARGINED BY A DEPENDING ANNULAR FLANGE, A SURFACE-TYPE ELECTRIC HEATER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SHEATHED ELECTRIC RESISTANCE HEATING ELEMENT HAVING A CONVOLUTED INTERMEDIATE HEAT-GENERATING PORTION PROVIDING A GENERALLY CIRCULAR HEATING SURFACE FOR DISPOSITION IN REGISTER WITH THE RANGE-TOP OPENING TO UNDERLIE AND SUPPORT A VESSEL TO BE HEATED AND TERMINAL END PORTIONS EXTENDING IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION BENEATH SAID HEAT-GENERATING PORTION FROM RESPECTIVE ENDS OF THE LATTER AND TERMINATING BEYOND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID ELEMENT HEATING SURFACE FOR CONDUCTING ELECTRICAL ENERGY TO SAID HEAT-GENERATING ELEMENT PORTION, A DIELECTRIC TERMINAL BLOCK BENEATH THE RANGE TOP TO ONE SIDE OF THE OPENING THEREIN AND COOPERABLE WITH SAID ELEMENT TERMINAL END PORTIONS TO PLACE THE LATTER IN AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, AND A BRACKET FOR SUPPORTING SAID TERMINAL BLOCK AND HAVING A FIRST PORTION ABUTTING THE EXTERIOR OF THE RANGE-TOP FLANGE AND REMOVABLY SECURED THERETO, A SECOND PORTION STRUCTURALLY INTEGRAL WITH SAID FIRST AND ABUTTING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE RANGE TOP, AND A THIRD PORTION STRUCTURALLY INTEGRAL WITH SAID SECOND AND UNDERLYING THE LATTER, SAID THIRD PORTION OVERLYING SAID BLOCK AND BEING REMOVABLY SECURED THERETO FOR SUPPORTING SAID BLOCK IN POSITION, AND SAID BRACKET BEING FORMED FROM A METAL STRIP WHICH IS DOUBLED BACK ON ITSELF TO PROVIDE SAID SECOND AND THIRD PORTIONS. 